Harry Potter is not my property. I only write fan fiction. Don't sue me!

Chapter 09: News

Lance Weasley entered the great hall skipping to his usual seat next to his brother Septimus at the Gryffindor table. Septimus did not look up as his brother got seated next to him, instead continued to divide his attention from talking to his girlfriend Cedrella to eating his kidney- and liver pie without looking 'disgusting', as his girlfriend put it.

After sometime Septimus did look up, only to find that his brother was smiling the largest and most silly looking grin he had ever seen. Septimus observed that Lance was grinning at his green beans as if they just told him a joke. When curiosity got too big for Septimus, he shortly nudged his brother lightly in the side and wiggled his eyebrows at him in a questioning manner, underlining it with a short lift of his chin.

His brother just turned back to his food, trying to look as uninterested as possible, until he couldn't hide his glee anymore and spun around to Septimus once more. "I've just met Ginevra Ginny Weasley and she is the most interesting, pretties girl I've ever seen!!" he exclaimed. His brother only reply was to raise an eyebrow, smirking at his brother's sudden outburst.

Lance continued to tell Septimus all about Ginny Weasley and how he had found her. He explained how he had, with very little help from the Slytherin prefect, carried her to the hospital wing and her reaction when she woken up.

"And then I followed Riddle around the next day, so that I could also visit her in the hospital wing and then Dippet tried to shoo me out of the hospital wing but then she spoke up for me and begged Dippet to let me stay and he was like, all right, then stay and then…" he said, without taking a breath in between, so that he had to stop explaining to huff air in and out of his lungs.

Septimus observed how his brother's cheeks colour with a blush, and his eyes sparkled with what only could be described as 'typical Dumbledore twinkles'. By this time other housemates sitting next to him had stopped eating to listen into the conversation. This brought an involuntary grin to his face, and before his brother could continue with his story, he started teasing him.

"Oh, so has little Lancy-wancy finally found a little girlfriend…? Aw… that is just so adorable. I bet you mum will start planning the wedding right away once you tell her about your little new friend…"

Lance tried to look mad at his brother, until he burst out into a face consuming blush and tried to hide his face in his hands while saying something that sounded like 'Ah, stop that!'. Septimus started laughing with his head thrown back, and after whipping his tears away, sobered up. His housemates were more subtle with their laughter and amusement at the other boy's embarrassment.

"Right, look Lance. I am very happy for you. You finally seem interested in a girl." He turned toward his girlfriend, who was now also watching the spectacle that Septimus and Lance always seemed to create about themselves. More to the crowd around them, then to her he continued in a very fatherly way. "Who would have ever thought that day would come. We had to what, wait like until your sixth year for that day to finally be there. But I am very happy for you." This he finished with a smile toward his still blushing brother.

Lance only smiled at his brother while raising an eyebrow. Okay, so he really had never been very interested in girls before, but with girls like those currently running around in school who could blame him? He shook his head and said, "Her sorting will be today before dinner. Dippet wants her to settle in as smoothly and fast as possible. It will be great to have another Weasley in our house!"

The other Gryffindor boys were wolf-whistling at his statement, while the girls giggled because Lance started blushing even more. Septimus started teasing his brother again, just for the heck of it.

On the other side of the great hall, at the Slytherin table, sat a boy with a melancholic face. His face turned into one of disgust, after having watched the odd Gryffindor behaviour. Sitting at the top of the table gave him a good view, to watch and screen the other houses for anything of importance. One always had to be careful, you never knew what those disgusting Gryffindors were up to…

He turned his attention back to his food, when he noticed that the talking at his house died down, and everybody put their cutlery on the table. He did the same and looked up, to see that their head boy had entered the great hall and was making his way towards him.

When Tom entered, he had been a little agitated. He had to stay behind after the meeting with the 'new girl' Genivra. It would not have bothered him if his talk about settling the new girl into school had only been with Dippet. But unfortunately Dumbledore, the old fool, had also been present. Even though Tom knew that no one could trace him or the dark magic he practiced inside Salazar's Room or Requirements, he suspected Dumbledore still mistrusted him. There was always something in his eyes that seemed to say 'I am watching you, better be careful'.

He made his way to the Slytherin table, and sat at the top of the table, at his usual seat. To his right sat Avery, his best man, and on his left Lestrange. The Blacks as well as the Malfoys sat near them, and then his inner circle. The rest of the house sat anywhere, but with the first years at the far end, because they had to still fight their way up to the top. This was also the way in which Tom saw his circle. His inner circle or followers surrounding him, and then came the outer.

As he sat down, and looked down the table, he relished on the power that was given to him due to old traditions. One of them was the tradition of honouring the head boy or girl of Slytherin by all students stop eating their food whenever the head boy (in this case) entered the great hall. Students of the Slytherin house were only allowed to continue eating after the head boy took the first bite of his food.

This tradition, as well as other rules, which passed from Slytherin generation to Slytherin generation was something that the other houses despised. The Ravenclaws believed it to be old-fashioned and believed the Slytherin house ripe for changes. The Hufflepuffs never understood the importance Slytherin punctuated on power and order as they were more for equality and fair play. And the Gryffindors anyway always antagonised the Slytherin house in everything they did.

After Tom took his first bite of his food, life started to come back to the Slytherin table. The girls returned to chit chatting and gossiping, while the boys continued to eat. Avery looked at his newly arrived housemate and said "The Gryffindors are louder today then usual. Something has happened."

Tom didn't look up from his food, but continued eating while processing what had been said to him. Then he put down his fork and looked right at Avery. Lestrange, who had started on his dessert, looked up to listen in.

"I have an announcement to make. Everyone is to be present."

Avery nodded and turned right away toward the others that sat next to him. Lestrange stood up from his seat and went out of the great hall. He knew his task without having to be told what to do. He had to find all the others of the inner circle that were not present now at lunch. It wouldn't do good to disappoint Riddle, or his Lord as they all called him, when he gave a direct order.

Whatever it is that he wants to tell us has to be big, if everyone is supposed to be present, thought Lestrange as he passed Near-headless Nick. With a sigh he continued down the hall toward the dungeons keeping his face blank of emotions.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

I know, I know… I had my last update, what… like some ancient time ago…

But I finished with my important exam, and now I am waiting for the results… that will tell me if I fail, and when I will be able to register for the next test… so anyway

What I tried to show was the difference between the houses, as well as the different atmosphere that surrounded them.


The Slytherin house is old, has its own system and pyramid of importance. It still holds to old traditions and grudges… it is pretty much feudal in comparison with the other houses.

The Gryffindor house is this bunch of merry people. They're louder in comparison to the other houses. It is almost as if everything they do seems to be a big new adventure. Their very social… and love to chit chat as well as making fun of people… but always in good nature… or at least that is what they think of themselves.

Yeah, so I see the Gryffindor house as this huge fluffy place, where everyone runs around with huge smiles and rosy checks… while you got the depressing, dark house of Slytherin… that kind of got stuck in the Middle Ages thinking-wise.

Again I want to tell you that this is not a "we will turn Tom Riddle into a feeling softy and change the world into a better place fic". Sorry to disappoint some, but I have the strong believe that people like Riddle at this age can not change without psychotherapy. This fic is rather angsty, so I will change rating of genre… because I really should have done that before. …

Hehehhe… comments and critisismssssmsmsm - whatever… - is always welcomed.